Door operating mechanism



C. J. IJAUGHI-IRTY` DOOR OPERATING MsoHANIsM 2 sheets-shew. 1

//Q ATTORNEY Moll/,1111111 Filed Sept. 24, 1938 Y T R E H G U A D J. C

DOOR OPERAT ING MECHAN I SM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 24, 1938 Patented Mar. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFCE DOUE OPE-RATING MECHANISM Application September 24, 1933, Serial No. 231,469

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved door operating mechanism adapted to be associated with a hinged door, which mechanism is substantially concealed within the rear edge of the door and adjacent door frame, which is operative to retain the door in predetermined position with a predetermined force and which is further operative upon opening` and release of the door, to swing the door into predetermined position.

In accordance with this invention, a door operating mechanism is provided positioned between the hinged edge of the door and the door frame upon which the door is pivoted. A weightr'ed member is housed and concealed within the door frame and is connected to a flexible cord of rope, wire cable, chain or other flexible material, which passes over a pulley` or sheave concealed within the door frame, the Pulley being free to rotate on a horizontal axis and free to swing in a horizontal plane. The cord passing over the pulley extends through a small opening in the door frame and is connected to a pivot pin embedded within the door adjacent the rear edge thereof. The pivot pin is rotatably supported by a suitable bracket contained within the door, and which is substantially concealed from view. The door operating mechanism is thus embedded and concealed in the door frame and in the door except for only a short section of cord extending between the rear edge of the door and the adjacent face of the door frame.

An object `of this invention is to provide an improved door operating mechanism which may be substantially and entirely concealed from view, which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture `and substantially foolproof in operation.

Another object of `this invention is to provide an improved door operating mechanism operating in cooperative relationship to permit pivoting of the door in either of one or both directions, and which cooperate tomaintain the door in normally closed position and which will swing the door into closed position when the door has been opened.

Another object of this invention is` to provide an improved door operating mechanism for building doors whose exposed parts in no way detract from but rather add to the door and door frame appearance and whose operating parts may be concealed within the door and door frame.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will be apparentffrom the following particular description and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings. Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevational View fof a` door and door frame having my improved door operatingmechanism associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational Cil view of a door and door frame, certain parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate the door supporting hinge structure and the `door operating mechanism;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view through the door frame looking down upon the top edge of the door and the associated hinge structure, this view being taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional View through the door frame and door, showing certain details of the door operating mechanism, this view being taken on line 4 6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary crcsssectional view through the door frame and door` hinged thereto, this view showing ythe door in partially open position to illustrate how the operating mechanism exerts a pull on the door intended to swing/it into closed position, this view being taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view through a portion of the door frame showing certain parts of the door operating mechanism, this view being taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

`Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings and specification.

My improved door operating mechanism may be associated with any type of door or door frame, within which is provided a limited space to house and contain the operating mechanism. For purposes of illustration, I have shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a door d mounted within a suitr able door frame including a rear frame member f, to which the door is hinged, a jamb member f adjacent to the free edge of the door and a top frame member f2 connecting the vertical frame members f and f'. The vertical frame por-tion 28 of lthe hinge bracket.

member f is preferably made hollow so as to house certain parts of the operating mechanism but may be made of wood, metal or other suitable material. For purpose of illustration, I have shown the vertical frame member f in Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive, as comprising a hollow metal post, but it will be appreciated that the shape or form of the hollow frame or post member f to which the door is hinged is unimportant, as my improved door operating mechanism may be applied to practically any hollow, vertical door frame member.

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the door may be formed of sheet metal, comprising spaced side wall forming panels I and 2 connected at the hinged edge of the door by a rear edge forming portion 3, at the top of the door by the top edge forming portion 4 and at the bottom of the door by the bottom forming portion 5, As illustrated more particularly in Fig. 3, the vertical door frame or post member f may be formed as a hollow metal post generally rectangular in cross-section, deined by the door edge wall 25, by the side face walls 2I and 22, and a wall 23 connecting the side face walls 2I and 22, It is understood that the frame member f may be made in any desired shape or cross-sectional contour.

'Ihe door d is pivotally supported upon the frame member I by lower pivot hinge 25 and an upper pivot hinge 25, which may be substantially identical in construction, and only one of said hinges need therefore be particularly described. Each hinge 25 and 26 is generally angular in cross-section, comprising :an attaching leg portion 21 .and a horizontally extending leg portion 28, upon which the door is pivoted. The leg portions .21 .and 28 may be connected by a -pair of spaced web portions 29, to stiffen and strengthen the hinge structure. A pivot pin 6 is rotatably mounted upon a suitable thrust bearing provided in the horizontal leg portion 28 of the hinge bracket. The pivot pin 6 extends through the adjacent horizontal edge of the door, and is provided with a threaded portion 8, which is threaded into a lthreaded aperture provided in a stiffening block 1 welded to the inside face of the horizontal edge portion of the door. The pivot pin 6 is provided with a circular collared portion 9 located between the outside face of the horizontal edge portion 4 of the door `and the horizontal leg portion 28 of the hinge bracket 25. 'I'he pivot pin 6 is provided with a stud portion I0 which extends through and is xed to a rotatably mounted bearing collar 32, which bearing collar forms a part of a bearing member seated within a recess 3| provided therefor in a generally circular boss 30 provided in the leg The bearing is provided with a stationary exterior collar member 33, which is fixed within the recess 3l provided in the boss portion 38. The inner rotatable collar member 32 .and the outer stationary collar member 33 are each provided with a cooperating raceway which receives ball bearings 34. 'Ihus it will be seen Ithat the door is pivotably mounted by a hingestructure at the top and bottom edges thereof, which is simple in desite end of the flexible cord 5I is connected to a pivot pin I8, supported by a suitable bracket imbedded within the door adjacent the hinged edge 3 thereof. It will be noted by referring more particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, that the pin I8 to which the lcord 5I is connected is positioned between the frame member f and the pivot pin 6 upon which the door is pivoted. Thus the weight 58 suspended within the hollow frame member ,f by the `cord 5I exerts a constant pull on the `cord 5I which operates to normally retain the door in the closed position illustrated in Fig. 4, and when .the door is open, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the constant pull exerted by the cord 5I upon the rear edge of the door operates to pull the door into closed position when .the door is released.

The pulley 52 may be conveniently mounted upon a relatively -at plate 40, which is set within a door frame opening 39, which opening is formed by cutting away a section of the depressed wall portion 20a of the door frame wall 28 adjacent the hinged rear -edge of the door. The opening 39 may be cut .to substantially conform to the shape of the at supporting plate 40 and Ithe outside face of the supporting plate 40 may, if desired, be held substantially iiush with the outside face of the depressed wall portion 29a of .the frame member f. The plate 40 may be held in .a fixed position at each end thereof by a connecting plate 4I, into which is screwed a pair of screws 42 extending through the depressed wall portion 20a of the frame member and by a pair of screws 43 extending through the adjacent end of the supporting plate 48. The door operating mechanism including the weight 5U, pulley 52 and the mounting therefor, is thus all supported by and concealed within the frame member f by the supporting plate 48. It will be understood that if desired, supporting plate i 40 might also be entirely concealed Within the hollow frame member f, but preferably it is so arranged that it can be easily inserted and removed vfrom the door frame.

The plate member 40 is provided with a pair of spaced inwardly extending lug portions 44 and 45, which may be cast integral therewith, and upon which the pulley' 52 is supported. The pulley 52 is rotatably mounted on a suitable pin 53 supported by a rectangular shaped pulley guide formed of cast or stamped metal, the guide sheave comprising vertical guide portions 54 and horizon-tal portions 55 which connect the vertical portions 54. A suitable gasket 56 is positioned between the connecting portions 55 and each of the adjacent supporting lugs 44 and 45.

A pivot pin 51 extends through the lug 44, the gasket 56 and .the connecting portion 55 of the pulley guide, the pin 51 being headed over as at 58 to retain the pivot pin 51 in position. Likewise a pivot pin 59 extends through the supporting lug 45 through the adjacent gasket 56 and through the connecting portion 55 of the pulley guide, pin 58 also .being headed over as at E0 to retain the pin in position. Thus it will be seen that the pulley 52 and its associated pulley guide may be swung in a horizontal plane with the opening and closing movement of the door d. The pulley 52 is provided with a cord receiving groove 52a to retain the weight carrying cord 5I in position upon the pulley. 'Ihe supporting plate 40 is provided with an opening 62 which preferably is in the form of a horizontally extending slot, as shown particularly in Fig. 5, through which the cord 5I extends.

The rear edge portion 3 of the door-adjacent .the opening 62 is' cut` away as at I`I, more particularly ShOWrl irl Fig. 2, so astoreceive a U- shaped pivot supporting bracket which extends into the interior of the door. This bracket -com- `prises a pair of spaced horizontal extending leg portions I2 and I3, andlavertical connecting portion I4, positioned within the door interior. Securing flanges I formed integral with and exlU tending laterally from each of the horizontal leg portions I2 and I3, are positionedexterior of the rear edge-portion 3 of the door. lA securing screw I1 extends through an opening in each of the nanges I5 and is screwed into an aperture pro- 15 vided in a reinforcing block I6, which may be welded to the .adjacent inside face'of the rear edge por-tion 3, thus rigidly supportingthe pivot bracket in xed position. The horizontal width of the leg portions I2 and I3 may-be substantially 20 equal to the distan-ce between the inside face of door panels I and 2, thus maintaining the panels I and 2 in proper spacedrelationship.

It will be noted that the rear edge portion 3 of the door is spaced from the adjacent face 20 25 of the door frame member f a sufficient distance to permit a free swinging movementv of the door d. A pivot pin I8 is pivotally connected at the ends thereof to the spaced horizontal leg portions I2 and I3 of the U-shaped` door bracket. A cord 30 connecting element I9 connects the ends of the cord 5I which projects through the opening 62 Vto the pivot pin I3,` this connecting element I9 being provided with a collar portion Illa. through which the pin I8 extends.v The adjacent end of 35 the cord 5I may be xedly held to the connecting element I9 by a set screw 63, which is designed to grip the end of the cord 5Iu extending into an opening 64 in the connecting element I8.

The door d swingably mounted in the thrust 40 bearing provided in the horizontal leg 28 of the hinge brackets 25 and 26 insure easy swinging opening and closing movement of the door d thereon. The door d may be mounted for either left or right hand swinging movement and may 45 be made to open in either one or both directions.

It will be noted by referring more particularly `to Figs. 4 and 5 that the pivot pin I8 to which the cord 5I is connected is positioned between the pulley 52 and the hinge pins 6, the Weight 50 50 vertically movable within the frame member f maintaining a uniform pull on the cord 5I and a corresponding pull on the pivot pin I8 exerted in the direction of the frame member 20. When the door is closed, as shown in Fig. 4, the pivot 55 pin I8 is substantially in alignment with the hinge pin 6 and the pulley 52, thus retaining th-e door in closed position. When the door is swung open, as shown in Fig. 5, the pivot pin I8 is moved out of alignment with a straight line 60 drawn between the hinge pins 6 and the cord receiving groove 52a of the pulley 52 and in this position the weight 5I) exerts a constant pulling force on the rear edge of the door which tends to pull the door into closed position. The size of 55 the weight 50 is such as to exert the desired closing force on the door, depending upon the weight of the door and the force required to overcome the hinge friction. The weight 50 is also so proportioned as to movably fit in the framemem 70 ber f. The rear edge 53 of the door is sufficiently cut away to permit free swinging movement of the connecting lelement I9 which connects the cord 5I with the pivot pin I8.

It will be appreciated that the door operating 15 mechanism may be positioned where desired along the real` edge of the door, but for smooth operation it is preferably positioned either equidistant between the spaced hinges or nearer the lower hinge which, due to the weight'oi the door, supplies the greatest resistance to swinging 5 movement of the door. The door operating mechanism is entirely concealed within the door frame and within the rear edge of the door except only for a short section of cord 5l which is visible between the rear edge of the door and 10 the adjacent door frame. The door operating mechanism is simple in design, inexpensive to construct, and substantially foolproof in operation and operates with a minimum of frictional resistance. All coil springs and like devices which weaken upon use, whos-e efiiciency otherwlise become impaired in use, are eliminated. The door operating mechanism as herein disclosed does not in any way mar or detract from the appearance of the door or door frame, and the parts of the operating mechanism can be readily assembled as a complete unit and inserted in the door and door frame quickly and without difficulty. K

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will` be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimedis:

l. In a door and door frame assembly having hinges xedly connected to said frame and pivotally connected to the door at a point spaced from the rear edge of the door, of a door operating mechanism operative to retain said door in or move said door when open into closed position, said mechanism including a weighted member contained within said door frame and movable vertically therein, lugs supported by said door frame and extending inwardly thereof, a pulley guide positioned between said lugs and pivotally connected thereto for swinging movement in a ygenerally horizontal plane, a pulley rotatably mounted upon said pulley guide for rotative movement about a generally horizontal axis, a flexible cord connected to said Weighted member trained over said pulley and extending outwardly through a side wall of said door frame, and means` for connecting said cord to said door at a point located between the pivot points of said hinges and said door frame.

2. In a door and door frame assembly having hinges xedly connected to said frame and pivotally connected to the door at a point spaced from the rear edge of the door, of a door operating mechanism operative to retain said door in or move said door when open into closed position,said mechanism including a weighted member contained within said door frame and movable vertically therein, a bracket having a normally flat face portion removably connected to the side face of said door frame adjacent to the rear edge of the door, said bracket closing an opening in said side face of the door frame, lug portions associated with said bracket extending into said door frame, a pulley guide positioned between said lugs and pivotally connected thereto for swinging movement in a generally horizontal plane, a pulley rotatably mounted upon said pulley guide for rotative movement about a generally horizontal axis, a flexible cord connected to said Weighted member trained over said pulley and extending outwardly through a. side wall of said door frame, and means for connecting said 'l5 cord to said door at a point located between the pivot points of said hinges and said door frame.

3. In a door and door frame assembly having hinged fixedly connected to said frame andpvotally connected to the door at a point spaced from the rear edge of the door, of a door operating mechanism operative to retain said door in or move said door when open into closed position, said mechanism including a weighted member contained within said door` frame and movable vertically therein, lugs supported by said door frame and extending inwardly thereof, a pulley guide positioned between said lugs and pivotally connected thereto for swinging movement in a generally horizontal plane, a pulley rotatably mounted upon said pulley guide for rotative movement about a generally horizontal axis, a flexible cord connected to said weighted member trained over said pulley and extending outwardly through the side Wall of said doo-r frame, a U-shaped bracket extending into said door through an opening provided in the rear edge thereof, and mean-s for pivotally connecting said cord with said bracket at a point located between the pivot points of said hinges and said door frame.

4. In a door and door frame assembly having hinges pivotally connecting the door to the frame, of a door operating mechanism operative to retain said door in or move said door into a pre,- determined position, said mechanism including a weighted member contained within said door frame and movable vertically therein, a, pulley rotatably mounted within said door frame, a pivotally mounted guide rotatably supporting said pulley permitting angular swinging movement thereof, a' cord connected to said Weighted member extending over said pulley and outwardly through said door frame, and a pivot pin connected to said door at a point located between the pivot points of said hinges, said cord being connected to said pivot pin.

5. In a door and door frame assembly having hinges pivotally connecting the door to the frame, of a door operating mechanism including a weighted member contained within said door frame and movable vertically therein, a cord connected to said Weighted member and extending outwardly through said door frame, means Within said door frame for guiding said cord, a U- shaped bracket extending into said door through an opening provided in the rear edge thereof, and means for pivotally connecting said cord to said bracket at a point located between the pivot points of said hinges.

6. In a door and door frame assembly having hinges pivotally connecting the door to the frame,

yof a door operating mechanism including a weighted member contained within said door frame and movable vertically therein, a cord con- -nected to said weighted member and extending outwardly through said door frame, means within said door frame for guiding said cord, a U- shaped bracket member extending through an opening in the rear edge of said door, a pivot pin pivotally connected to said bracket at a point located between the pivot points of the hinges, and an element connecting said cord to said pivot pin.

CLYDE J. DAUGHERTY. 

